The largest purchase you will probably make in your lifetime, buying a home, does not come cheap in today's world. In fact, you will often need 20 percent of a home's asking price to get the mortgage you need for the purchase, which may sound impossible to you at the moment.
However, with a little planning and some ingenuity along the way, you can save the money needed for your dream home. To do so, here are some steps you can take right away.
If you have high-interest credit cards or student loan payments each month, the money you are putting towards this debt could be saved up for a down payment on a home. Thus, you should do all you can to get your debt under control.
When you look around at homes for sale and what they cost, you may decide on getting a side hustle. This can include working a second job at a retail store, driving for Uber in your spare time, or perhaps making restaurant deliveries. Whatever you select, the money you earn can add up quickly.
Once you examine your budget, you will see plenty of things you can cut down on each month. If you eat out quite a bit, start doing more cooking yourself. Over time, the money you save will surprise you and your family.
For now, don't worry about putting money into your retirement accounts. Instead, put that money towards the down payment for your dream home. Once you save up what you need for your home, you can once again start saving for retirement.
Finally, once the holidays roll around and your family and friends start asking you what you want for presents, tell them you want cold, hard cash that you can use for your down payment.
Pay Off Your Debt
If you have high-interest credit cards or student loan payments each month, the money you are putting towards this debt could be saved up for a down payment on a home. Thus, you should do all you can to get your debt under control.
This can include refinancing your student loan or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates. Paying off debt is imperative, as you will often pay much more out of pocket due to accumulated interest.
Get a Second Job
When you look around at homes for sale and what they cost, you may decide on getting a side hustle. This can include working a second job at a retail store, driving for Uber in your spare time, or perhaps making restaurant deliveries. Whatever you select, the money you earn can add up quickly.
Cut Expenses
Once you examine your budget, you will see plenty of things you can cut down on each month. If you eat out quite a bit, start doing more cooking yourself. Over time, the money you save will surprise you and your family.
Don't Worry About Retirement
For now, don't worry about putting money into your retirement accounts. Instead, put that money towards the down payment for your dream home. Once you save up what you need for your home, you can once again start saving for retirement.
Request Gift Money
Finally, once the holidays roll around and your family and friends start asking you what you want for presents, tell them you want cold, hard cash that you can use for your down payment.
If everyone just gives you the money they would have spent on presents, you may wind up with quite a holiday windfall for your house fund.
If you are not shy about putting these tips into practice, it will not be long until you can leave your worries behind and move into the home of your dreams.
If you are not shy about putting these tips into practice, it will not be long until you can leave your worries behind and move into the home of your dreams.